Legal News 09/2018

Bobbitt's lawyer says he will go to court if couple do not hand over the money

A lawyer for Johnny Bobbitt Jr. said Friday that he will ask a New Jersey Superior Court judge to enforce her order mandating that a Burlington County couple hand over what was left of the $400,000 they raised for the homeless man in a GoFundMe ...(Sep 1, 2018, Philly.com)

How White House lawyer Don McGahn helped break the US election system

Top White House lawyer Don McGahn is parting ways with Donald Trump as so many people do—messily, and with bad feelings on both sides. But part of McGahn's legacy has little to do with his erstwhile boss: Well before Trump, McGahn played a crucial ...(Sep 1, 2018, Quartz)

As Crazy Rich Asians continues to slay the box office and blaze trails for inclusion and representation in Hollywood, lawyer Christina Ignatius, who affectionately refers to herself as “Tenacious Ignatius” thought it would be appropriate to open her ...(Sep 1, 2018, Deadline)

Cohen's lawyer has a history of embarrassing flubs

Michael Cohen's powerhouse lawyer Lanny Davis, under fire after he “unintentionally misspoke” for a debunked story on the controversial Trump Tower meeting, has a history of making inaccurate statements — and repping a host of rogues, including an ...(Sep 2, 2018, New York Post)

While You Were Offline: Say Goodbye To Another Presidential Lawyer or Two

What Happened: Of all the people the President of the United States has pushed out of the White House, perhaps the White House lawyer wasn't the best choice. Where It Blew Up: Twitter, media reports. What Really Happened: Elsewhere in the legal worries ...(Sep 2, 2018, WIRED)

Homicide suspect was drunk, not racist, lawyer says

Homicide suspect was drunk, not racist, lawyer says. Updated September 2, 2018 at 9:24 AM ; Posted September 2, 2018 at 9:22 AM. Comment. By The Associated Press. YORK, Pa. (AP) -- An attorney for a man accused of killing another man after being ...(Sep 2, 2018, PennLive.com)

Lawyer group stands watch during Chicago protests

Chicago's anti-violence protesters are getting silent support from about 100 lawyers with green hats. The city's "Legal Observers" are trained volunteers whose job is to watch police during a protest, record any civil liberty violations and serve "as a ...(Sep 2, 2018, Miami Herald)

A lawyer got $367000 after the dead woman's condo was sold. Then he bounced IRS checks

As the closing agent on the sale of a dead woman's condominium, South Miami lawyer Rene Julian Garcia received $367,073 into his trust account. But when her estate and the Florida Bar began asking about $148,000 in bounced checks to the IRS on the ...(Sep 2, 2018, Miami Herald)

Letter: Lawyer Cohen

Let me see if I have this straight. Some lawyer reveals he tapes his conversations with his clients without their knowledge. He then cops a plea to a five-year sentence for a campaign violation offense, which many believe usually involves only a fine ...(Sep 3, 2018, Charleston Post Courier)

Michael Cohen's lawyer, Lanny Davis, took the fall Sunday for a CNN story that suggested President Trump had advance knowledge of the Trump Tower meeting with Russians to get dirt on Hillary Clinton. “I thought it was important not to blame CNN, not to ...(Sep 3, 2018, New York Post)

Former client says he lost his son in custody case due to lawyer who is now facing charges

EROS, La. - (9/2/2018) "I was lawyer shopping. I was going to everyone." Cody Cotton says he is a victim of Natalie Robinson. Robinson is the woman who was arrested just last week for practicing law without a license. She is now out of jail after ...(Sep 3, 2018, MyArkLaMiss (press release) (blog))

Aretha Franklin's Lawyer Explains Why Singer Did Not Have a Will at Time of Her Death

The late Aretha Franklin left no will or trust for her reported $80 million estate, and her family could now face lengthy court proceedings when dividing up her fortune. Franklin's attorney of 28 years, Don Wilson, confirmed to The Associated Press ...(Sep 3, 2018, Entertainment Tonight)

John Manning, attorney, was a hero at Peachtree Corners church

When John Manning gave the children's sermon at Simpsonwood United Methodist Church, he made sure to get the full attention of his audience. Sometimes that involved dressing up as a superhero, but that was no problem for Manning, a natural storyteller, ...(Sep 3, 2018, Atlanta Journal Constitution)

The 47-year-old Californian thrust himself into the public spotlight this year as the hard-talking, no-nonsense lawyer who is also a chief liberal opponent to Donald Trump. Avenatti is representing Stormy Daniels, an adult film star who had an alleged ...(Sep 3, 2018, The Daily Pennsylvanian)

How to Fix the Kavanaugh Confirmation Hearings

Democrats have no such excuse, and even though they're in the minority they're fully allowed to hire their own counsel—one lawyer for all of them. Most Senate Democrats will oppose Kavanaugh, because they legitimately suppose he will drive the Court ...(Sep 4, 2018, The Atlantic)

Hours before the start of hearings on Brett Kavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court, the lawyer for former president George W. Bush turned over 42,000 pages of documents from the nominee's service in the Bush White House, angering Senate Minority ...(Sep 4, 2018, Washington Post)

Bob Woodward: Trump's lawyer warned him of an 'orange jump suit' if he testifies

One veteran lawyer who recently represented President Donald Trump believes he is a "liar" and told Trump he could end up in "an orange jump suit" if he testifies before special counsel Robert Mueller, according to a new book from legendary journalist ...(Sep 4, 2018, CNN)

Lawyer for 'thieving' lunch lady blames sloppy accounting

The only green that two Connecticut lunch ladies handled was creamed spinach, one of the theft suspects' lawyers claimed Tuesday — arguing that it's clear the sisters are broke because they still carpool. “These two individuals don't have money, and ...(Sep 4, 2018, New York Post)

Sorry, Mr. Trump, the Attorney General Is America's Lawyer

By now, few might lift an eyebrow at President Trump's crusade to delegitimize his own Justice Department and, specifically, his attorney general, Jeff Sessions. It long ago became clear that Mr. Trump regards federal law enforcement — as he sees all ...(Sep 4, 2018, New York Times)

Feds not targeting Archer Jr. in corruption probe, lawyer says

Detroit — Federal prosecutors have assured businessman Dennis Archer Jr. that he is not a target of an ongoing public corruption investigation, according to a federal court filing Tuesday. Archer received the assurance Friday, one week after a lawyer ...(Sep 4, 2018, The Detroit News)

Lawyer For Homeless Man Says $400000 Raised To Help Him Is Gone

When Johnny Bobbitt first met Kate McClure and their feel-good story about a chance encounter that changed both their lives hit the daytime TV circuit, he said her generosity inspired an "indescribable" feeling in him. But less than a year later, that ...(Sep 5, 2018, NPR)

The lawyer, Zina Bash, once served as a clerk for Brett Kavanaugh, who is Trump's second U.S. Supreme Court nominee. She sat directly behind Kavanaugh to his left, where she was widely seen on camera resting her right hand on her left arm, thumb and ...(Sep 5, 2018, Snopes.com)

US, Rights Groups Denounce Iran's Arrest of Detained Lawyer's Husband

The U.S. State Department and human rights groups have expressed shock and outrage at Iran's arrest of the husband of Nasrin Sotoudeh, a detained rights lawyer whose release he campaigned for. Rights groups said security agents detained Reza ...(Sep 5, 2018, Voice of America)

Lawyer in fraud case pleads guilty to fleeing prosecution

A lawyer facing investment fraud charges in Florida has pleaded guilty to fleeing prosecution after he was caught in Mexico. Miami federal prosecutors say in a Tuesday release that 71-year-old Michael Casey has been a fugitive for four years. It says ...(Sep 5, 2018, News & Observer)

Lawyer for homeless man: $400000 in GoFundMe donations all gone, accuses couple of taking it

MOUNT HOLLY, N.J. -- The lawyer for a homeless man in Philadelphia whose selflessness led to donations of over $400,000 through an online fundraising page said Tuesday that all the money is gone. Johnny Bobbitt's attorney, Chris Fallon, said he learned ...(Sep 5, 2018, NOLA.com)

The lawyer for a British caver has described the latest reported insults against his client by Elon Musk as "vile and false," repeating a vow to sue the tech billionaire. Musk allegedly renewed his attack against the caver, Vernon Unsworth, in a series ...(Sep 5, 2018, CNNMoney)

Former White House ethics lawyer joins Priebus law firm

Stefan Passantino, the former top ethics lawyer in the Trump White House, is joining Reince Priebus' law firm in its government relations, public policy and compliance practice group. Passantino, who served as deputy counsel and deputy assistant to the ...(Sep 5, 2018, Politico)

Former Crypto Lawyer and ICO Advisor Julian Zegelman: Investing in ICOs Is a Risk on Dynamite

Julian Zegelman, a lawyer with many years of experience, has turned into a VC — he's now a general partner at TMT Blockchain Fund, a venture capital fund investing in blockchain technology projects. But why did he end his legal career? Catherine Ross ...(Sep 5, 2018, Cointelegraph)

The Latest: Lawyer questions drug company motive with grant

The Latest on Purdue Pharma's funding to help develop a lower-price overdose antidote (all times local):. 2:45 p.m.. A lawyer for local governments suing the opioid industry is questioning the motives of a major prescription painkiller producer making ...(Sep 5, 2018, Minneapolis Star Tribune)

Kentucky lawyer says Colin Kaepernick is 'by definition racist'

A Kentucky lawyer who ran for the state Senate this year used his campaign page to blast Nike's decision to make former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick the face of its newest ad campaign, and asset Kaepernick is "by definition racist." The promotion ...(Sep 5, 2018, Courier Journal)

Asia Argento's lawyer is disputing allegations that the actress sexually abused Jimmy Bennett, and instead, claims he "attacked" her. In a lengthy statement released on Wednesday, Argento's new attorney, Mark Jay Heller, addressed the New York Times ...(Sep 6, 2018, Fox News)

The Navy's top lawyer unlawfully scuttled a SEAL's case, court rules

In a landmark decision Wednesday, the military's highest court ruled that the Navy's top lawyer, Vice Adm. James W. Crawford III, illegally meddled in the case of a SEAL accused of rape. In a split 3-2 decision, the United States Court of Appeals for ...(Sep 6, 2018, NavyTimes.com)

Hollywood talent lawyers get 5 percent of their clients' pay. Everyone knows this, and virtually no one puts it in writing. But decades of gentlemen's agreements could haunt industry dealmakers after a California judge ruled Aug. 28 that Johnny Depp's ...(Sep 6, 2018, Hollywood Reporter)

Lawyer That Went On Anti-Asian Rant Just Loves Talking About Race

Oh no. Looks like Christina Ignatius — the lawyer who reached Above the Law levels of infamous with her offensive Crazy Rich Asians-inspired rant — has more racially charges skeletons in her closet. A tipster has dug into her Facebook post and found ...(Sep 6, 2018, Above the Law)

Lawyer for family of man killed by Jason Stockley says murder charge was inappropriate

But Watkins is now cooperating with Daniel Finney Jr., a lawyer representing Stockley in a civil case of his own against former St. Louis Circuit Attorney Jennifer Joyce, an internal affairs investigator and the city of St. Louis. Finney this week ...(Sep 6, 2018, STLtoday.com)

Bush lawyer fires back at Booker 'histrionics' over public documents

"We were surprised to learn about Senator Booker's histrionics this morning because we had already told him he could use the documents publicly," said Bill Burck, the George W. Bush lawyer who led the review of Kavanaugh's records related to his time ...(Sep 6, 2018, The Hill)

In Defense of the Country Lawyer

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Among the many revelations in Bob Woodward's new book “Fear: Trump in the White House,” it seems the president does not think much of Southern lawyers (in general) or graduates of the University of Alabama School of Law (in ...(Sep 6, 2018, New York Times)

Missing Andover lawyer found dead, no foul play suspected, police say

A Kansas lawyer who was reported missing has been found dead, officials said. Todd Allison's body was found by detectives at around 2 p.m. Thursday, Andover police said in a Facebook post. There was no indication of foul play. Co-workers said Allison, ...(Sep 6, 2018, Wichita Eagle)

Lawyer: Search warrant 'defective' in Attleboro gun case

ATTLEBORO — The lawyer for a reputed gang member argued Wednesday that police lacked probable cause to obtain a court-issued search warrant for the suspect's South Attleboro home. Francis T. O'Brien Jr., the lawyer for William E. Hancock, 30, ...(Sep 6, 2018, The Sun Chronicle)

Lawyer: Lake Geneva woman felt pressured to plead guilty in meth case

ELKHORN. A Lake Geneva woman felt pressured to plead guilty in February to manufacturing the methamphetamine that caused an explosion in a hotel, her lawyer said in Walworth County Court on Thursday. Melissa E. Kuen, 37, was scheduled to be ...(Sep 7, 2018, Gazettextra)

Trump tweets should nix death for bike path attack, lawyer says

NEW YORK — President Donald Trump's tweets were cited Thursday by lawyers for a man charged with fatally mowing down eight people on a New York City bike path as reason to disqualify the death penalty as a trial possibility. The lawyers wrote in a ...(Sep 7, 2018, WPIX 11 New York)

GOP lawyer praises Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Former U.S. Solicitor General Ted Olson praised the Supreme Court's leading liberal justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, on Friday while testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee on behalf of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. "She is an ...(Sep 7, 2018, The Hill)

Yup, It's Great to Be a White Male Lawyer!

There's no way to sugarcoat this, so let me be blunt: It sucks to be a female lawyer, but it really sucks to be a female lawyer of color. In almost every aspect—from hiring, assignments, pay, image to you-name-it—minority women face far greater ...(Sep 7, 2018, Law.com)

Kentucky lawyer behind disability fraud given 15 more years

Fluty, who worked for 20 years for a coal company, said he was twice denied disability benefits before hiring Conn to be his lawyer. Fluty said he knew Conn's name because of a billboard near his home. He soon visited Conn's law office, a sprawling ...(Sep 7, 2018, Fox News)

Klages' lawyer says actions of others will be revealed in court

When we present this evidence, we will not be relying on mere statements." Klages' lawyer made the comments on Friday after the former coach made her second appearance in 54-A District Court before Judge Stacia Buchanan for a pre-exam conference on ...(Sep 7, 2018, The Detroit News)

Lawyer: South Dakota pet store owner not 'terrible person'

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — The attorney of a South Dakota pet store owner whose business was raided last month said Friday that his client doesn't abuse animals and isn't the “terrible person” people are portraying her to be. Attorney Timothy Rensch told ...(Sep 7, 2018, WTOP)

Lawyer busted for alleged role in $3B stock scheme

A crooked attorney has been busted for his role in a $3 billion pump-and-dump stock scheme, Brooklyn federal prosecutors said Friday. Suspended lawyer Christopher Davies controlled publicly traded company American Transportation Holdings Inc. and is ...(Sep 8, 2018, New York Post)